Improve Dialog Listening

rcpolk

Have a problem listening to dialog in movies. Specially lower voice levels in the movie. My problem in hearing is with the higher frequencies.
Since I have a sub I have designated all speakers as "small".

Any suggestions besides a wireless headphone which I already have but would like to avoid using?

headrott

Try setting all speakers to "Large", as setting it to "Small" will compress the output sound (at least on my Denon). I don't think it will be a night and day difference, but may help a little.

Greg

rcpolk

Large speaker setting makes it worse.
thanks

Erik Tracy

rcpolk wrote: »

Have a problem listening to dialog in movies. Specially lower voice levels in the movie. My problem in hearing is with the higher frequencies.
Since I have a sub I have designated all speakers as "small".

Any suggestions besides a wireless headphone which I already have but would like to avoid using?

You could try manually bumping up the volume for your center speaker.

When you set up your system did you run the auto-calibration feature on your avr?

If so, check what the default PEQ profile it uses. Some AVRs have a default that applies a PEQ profile that is 'warm' and tones down the higher frequencies.

You could try to re-run your autocalibration feature again and set the PEQ profile to "none" and then see if that helps.

headrott

I would agree with Erik that you should manually increase the center volume, but I would also NOT use the auto setup feature at all. IMO it won't do as good a job as you can. It just takes longer to do.

concealer404

Can you fit a CS2 center in your location?

rcpolk

Yes, I auto-calibrated on set up, which is a great feature.
I will try PEQ profile adjustments.
One thing about my hearing is that I am 65 yrs old.
thank you

woodhead 2

rcpolk wrote: »

Yes, I auto-calibrated on set up, which is a great feature.
I will try PEQ profile adjustments.
One thing about my hearing is that I am 65 yrs old.
thank you

Sucks getting older, doesn't it. My hearing has changed, also.

nguyendot

See if you have a dynamic range setting. You can set it so that the difference between loud and soft is smaller...so that your vocals will be louder. Yes it will affect sound quality, but it will make it so you can hear the dialog at least.... the older you get the more people use it.

rcpolk

woodhead 2:
I would be happy if it were only my hearing getting older. LOL

louhamilton

If you haven't already, I would recommend calibrating your audio.

The first thing I do is use the built-in Audyssey calibration in my Denon. This gets basic distances, etc.

Next, I change all speakers to small if they had been designated as large. I also change the crossover frequency to a level that the speaker supports. I use 40Hz, but 80Hz is a common suggestion (and the THX standard) but it is totally dependent on the speakers and your ears.

The last thing I do is use an SPL meter to fine tune the levels. This will get each speaker as close to identical in db's as possible. I use the built-in white noise of my Denon and calibrate mine to 80Hz. I like mine a little on the hot side. Most will typically suggest 75Hz (again, I believe the THX standard). Also, I would recommend setting your sub about 3db hotter than the rest of your speakers. An SPL meter can be purchased for about $50 and a cheap tripod for about $10-20.

Good luck!

EDIT: One other thought. If your center channel is not pulled to the front edge of your cabinet, move it. Reflections from the top of the cabinet can muddy dialog and sometimes make it difficult to hear or not clear.

Mon40CSMM10

Someone on another discussion forum recommended a +3 dB increase for the center channel. I think that's an excellent idea, and works better than setting the Center to Large or enabling a Dialogue Enhance type function that mixes the Center into the Front speakers.

Calibrate the center the Center to 78 dB. Or, calibrate the center to 75 dB and then increase 3 dB after calibration. Either way is valid.

This will have an effect on Pro Logic II Music mode, so adjusting the center width from 5 to 6 (out of a range 0 to 7) will be necessary to prevent excess Center channel presence in the music.

dorokusai

If boosting your EQ range of loss doesn't help, you may have to go all channel stereo and drop your DSP soundfields.

rcpolk

Is 78dB calibration the loudness setting of that speaker?

Gosh, I thought buying all new amp and speakers would let me hear dialogue better. That hasn't happened.
Music is superior but it seems to me that dialogue clarity ( in low voice ) is hit and miss and requires much more than cursory knowledge and understanding.

Does everyone conquer this problem after learning the details?

In any event, thanks for this wonderful forum.

Mon40CSMM10

If you are using a receiver's setup tones and a sound meter, 78 dB will be measured by the sound pressure level meter in use when the channel level is set to a specific level when the master volume is at the receiver's reference level.

To be more specific:
1. The receiver I am using uses -18 dB as a master volume reference level.
2. The center channel speaker is 8.5 feet away from the listening position.
3. A receiver channel setting of -3.5 dB would calibrate to 75 dB.
4. Increasing the channel level +3 dB to -0.5 dB--either during or after calibration--results in that channel level being 78 dB at the master volume reference level.

You actual setting will vary depending on receiver in use, center channel distance relative to the listening position, center channel speaker in use, room size, and room characteristics in general.

Setup for music and home theater is also very much a subjective task. Sure, there are guidelines such as using 80 Hz for the crossover point (but I prefer 100 Hz), setting all speakers to small (but I still prefer the front speakers set to large even with a subwoofer), and 75 dB vs. 85 dB per channel calibration (but I prefer 78 dB for the center channel with a center width setting of 6 for Pro Logic II Music mode)--but in the end it's up to the owner of their setup how they want to configure the sound of their own setup.

Mon40CSMM10

[was able to edit post after all but forum wouldn't allow me to delete this one.]